Trojans get through first five preseason games

Trojans baseball coach Brian Hayes got his team through their first preseason games in Arizona.

By Vern Hee Pahrump Valley Times

March 15, 2017 - 6:00 am

Trojans ball player Chase McDaniel in a run-down at a tournament in Arizona over the weekend. Charlotte Uyeno / Pahrump Valley Times

The Trojans’ Willie Lucas lets the ball rip in a baseball tournament in Arizona over the weekend. The Trojans went 1-4 but got over their first game jitters and will play this Thursday on the road at SECTA at 3:30 p.m. Charlotte Uyeno / Pahrump Valley Times

Trojans baseball coach Brian Hayes got his team through their first preseason games in Arizona.

“Going into the tournament, our expectations were pretty high,” he said. “We played five good teams and although we only picked up one win, we were in every game. Our pitchers did a great job of pounding the strike zone and giving our defense opportunities to make plays. Garrett Lucas, Willie Lucas, Dylan Grossell, Bradda Costa, Cyle Havel and Josh Ferrer all did a good job on the mound. Defensively, we made nine errors the first two games and only five the last three games of the tournament. Five of our errors were on pickoffs from our pitchers. Offensively, we struggled to put together solid at-bats the entire tournament. Freshman Cyle Havel was one of the only bright spots we had offensively.”

Look for the Trojans get into the hitting groove at SECTA at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday. The Trojans return home against Chaparral on Monday at 3:30 p.m.